When I Found You

Chapter Two: Emotional Ties

Throughout the night I struggled to stay asleep; although my body was physically exausted, my mind couldn't stop racing with the thought of my entire family dead. I had no way to tell if they were alive or not until Tanner could get in touch with a pack a few miles away from mine. The thought scared me that my pack was dead, they could all be dead and Lunar Glare could be no more, or my family and friends fought back and will rise again. It was scary to think that just a few hours ago my life was completely different; I had a perfect life with a great family and great friends that could now all be dead.

I don't know why but after crying into Tanner's shoulder, I didn't cry the rest of the night. It was like my mind started to refuse to acknowledge the fact that I had lost loved ones, I was in denial and I knew it.

Not only was I shocked from the attack, I hated myself that I didn't mind sleeping in a bed with the Alpha who helped kill my people, in fact I enjoyed it. To think that someone who was so kind and loving to me could be capible of doing such harm and destruction to another person was hard to digest and get through my head. He never left me during the night; even when I would let my mind wander too far and found myself burying my head into a garbage puking, he held my hair and pulled me tighter against him on the bed.

"I'll send some men out in the morning to search for your family." Tanner whispered, knowing I was still awake. "Alpha Sam of the Red Nest pack would not be willing to help me after all this." He told me, referring to the pack next to mine. I simply nodded to let him know that I understood him, and went back to staring out the window that led to nothing but trees.

The next morning, after sleeping for two hours, I woke up to an empty bed. Feeling paniacked and nervous that Tanner had left me to die, I jumped out of the bed and backed myself up against a wall as tears began to build up. After listening to my heart race for a few seconds, I noticed a blue piece of paper on the side of the bed that Tanner had been sleeping on, next to a beautiful purple lilly.

I'm sorry I had to leave you Kate, but I left early this morning with a handful of my most talented trackers. We're going to find your family. My brother Daniel is in charge of keeping you safe and is to not let anyone in or out of my house. I understand if you want to stay in bed all day, there are some movies under the TV. I'll be back by 4.

Tanner

Suddenly feeling a wave of emotion, I took a seat on the bed and started sobbing. I don't know if it was because of the thought he was putting into the search, or because it was my family and friends being searched for. I knew that there was a high chance that they were not going to be found alive but I had to keep hopeful that Tanner wouldn't be returning alone.

As I laid down, my eyes wandered around the room noticing the the grey walls were bare. No pictures hung, no posters, nothing. It was as if Tanner just moved a bed and a dresser into this room and left it as it was.

I decided to leave the room and walk around about an hour after I woke up. Once I opened the door, I didn't know where to go. Tanner's house was much larger than I had expected. I walked out into a hallway that I assumed had to lead somewhere. I walked slowly and quietly, hoping to find a kitchen or open living area but found nothing but spare bedrooms and offices.

"If you're looking for an entertainment room, it's not down there." A man's voice called from behind, startling me and causing me to scream slightly. "I didn't mean to scare you, I'm Daniel. TJ's brother." He said as he walked closer and outstretched his hand for me to shake.

"TJ?" I asked causing Daniel to laugh and shake his head as if he expected me to be confused.

"Tanner James, he tried to grow out of the name once he took over as Alpha but you can't outgrow that name." He told me as he led us in the opposite was I had been walking. He put his arm around my shoulder as we walked and I was slightly confused with his formality with me.